Introducing our Māori and Pacific students Kaitātaki
Tēnā koutou kātoa, ko Grace tōku ingoa and I am the first Māori and Pacific students’ kaitātaki at Queen Margaret College. This role allows me the privilege to represent and uplift Polynesian culture in a meaningful way within our kura.
As part of my new role, I worked with the kura to establish a new service initiative, a partnership with Kura Kai. Kura Kai is a Māori-owned small business that runs on the kaupapa "whānau cooking for whānau". This organisation brings together communities to cook bulk meals for those in need. These meals are then distributed to six locally based secondary schools in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Kura Kai have chosen to support secondary schools because they know how important a completed secondary education is to the future of our rangatahi. Kura Kai believes in the power of kindness and generosity, and the importance of showing respect and maintaining mana. They seek to empower rangatahi through the choice of helping others.
Our kura is supporting this kaipakihi (business) by organising cook-ups for rangatahi and whānau to come together and prepare meals for those in need. These meals are stored in our communal freezer in the Old Gym and collected by our local Kura Kai coordinator for distribution. Our first cook up, the Matariki cook up, was held on Sunday 15 June. Thirty volunteers joined forces to prepare chilli con carne and hashbrown bake. Together we created 100 meals, an amazing outcome that reflects the generosity and spirit of our community. This initiative is also the first to be supported by all three QMC foundations: the Parents’ Association, the Foundation Trust, and the Old Girls’ Association. Their support has been instrumental in getting this kaupapa off the ground.
My vision for this initiative is to show manaakitanga, to recognise the need within our community, and to take action to create change. This partnership provides the opportunity for students and families to come together, cook with heart, and make a real difference.
“My role at QMC is about creating connections and strengthening our Māori and Pacific whānau. Partnering with Kura Kai allows us to live out those values in a practical and powerful way.”

